- Says we’re only seeking justice, fairness
- Boasts no one can penetrate or break our ranks
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Amid current disagreements with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s hierarchy and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has boasted that his group remains solid in the face of unending attacks and criticisms.
Also, he is confident that no one can break their ranks because efforts by those attempting to create disunity among them would always come to naught given the group’s nationalistic and selfless agenda.
Governor Wike also explained that other PDP governors in the perceived ‘dissident’ team are only demanding that things be done right, just, and fair within the party with respect for all agreements reached by stakeholders.
Insisting on not backing despite mounting criticisms by the Party’s hierarchy and his opponents, Wike, who spoke while inaugurating the Okezuo Abia Flyover along the Aba -Enugu Expressway in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, and the rehabilitated Aba- Owerri Road in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State, said; “When I read on the pages of newspapers, they say some people are making attempts to break my rank, I say to myself that they don’t understand the modus operandi of what we are doing.
“If they understand the modus operandi of what we are doing, they won’t waste their time. If you like go and meet Ikpeazu, if you like go and meet Seyi (Makinde), if you like go and meet Ortom (Samuel), and if you like go and meet Ugwuanyi (Ifeanyi), I pity them. People think that relationships can be bought with money.”
According to him, no amount of propaganda and blackmail can weaken his political capacity to deliver a win for whoever Rivers State decides to support with votes in the 2023 general election, declaring; “Look, nobody should bother about any abuse on me. I’m too much for it. I don’t even know when I’m abused. If they like let them put everything on social media and abuse me, at the end, we will know who is relevant or not at the appropriate time.
“Politics is not to go on the pages of newspapers. Politics is not to go and buy slots on television and speak. It is who will deliver at the appropriate time. That is what is key. If you like, abuse me from now until tomorrow, it’s your business.
“What is important is when the time comes we will know. When the jungle matures, we will know those who can stand crisis. We will know those who have the capacity to say this is where our state will go. Ikpeazu is one of those governors who have the capacity and will decide where the people of Abia State will go.”
Emphasizing that the governors, whom some forces in PDP are fighting against, are those projecting the party and consolidating the goodwill of the electorate that will translate to electoral fortune, the Rivers State Chief Executive said; “Look at what they said, they said your governor (Abia State) is a boy. They said Wike is a boy, Seyi is a boy, Ortom is a boy, Ugwuanyi is a boy. But see what the boys are doing. Tell them that as men, they should show us what they have done.
“Because we say look, an agreement is agreement. You told me you will do this, now it’s time for you to do it, you don’t want to do it. Is it good?” he queried, adding; “Now, what’s the problem, we say, my brother, you have shared and given to Atiku; you shared and given Okowa, you shared and given Saraki, which one have you given to Ikpeazu?
“What Ikpeazu and co are saying is that when you are sharing Senate President to so and so person, which one have you given to Abia?
The Governor noted that because the Abia State governor had submitted himself to God, whatever he does has continued to prosper and commended him for changing the narrative of governance in Abia State and working to better the socio-economic situation for the people of the state.
Also speaking at the event, the Abia Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu said the Okezuo Abia Flyover along the Aba-Enugu expressway, is one of the signature projects of his administration, adding that it is the first interchange bridge delivered in the state since its creation.
According to him; “Our desire to construct this flyover at this point was borne out of our conviction that we will ease the movement of personnel and goods out of and in Aba, being our commercial nerve centre in Abia State.”
“People were about spending two to three hours at this junction trying to get into Aba, to get into the central market in the city and we decided to respond to that problem by providing this flyover. I thank God that today, this project has become a reality”, the governor said.
